Somewhere in the cosmos is a being(or two) watching us, observing our actions, and the consequential effect they had on our world. That's usually god, but what if somewhere out there is someone that looks at us with such disdain and thinks of us as a repugnant species, would just have fun succumbing us to our doom given the chance.
Well that's kind of what watching Idaten Deities feel like, two big forces; such as demons from hell vs deities that came into existence by nature's call, are interlocked in this battle where the force of believably good beat down on the bad that have decidedly tried to do whatever it takes to survive.
Despite an anime that's mostly suited as an action flick, that sounds and feels like a One Punch Man season 3 that we've all wanted, this is way more edgier. As if to say someone was super into Devilman and thought of implementing some basis of world-building influenced by the aforementioned. There are things that are so disturbing, yet the show does a good job of not taking it too seriously.
The best way to sum up this show with a few brief words is that it's a crazy power trip, it also has no issues tiptoeing controversy, and it just doesn't give a damn what you think of all this stuff either. It also can be very perverted and you'd be having a hard time figuring out where the show draws the line.
Speaking of drawing the line, this series is based on a manga. That is being written by Amahara, and illustrated by Coolkyousinnjya(of Dragon Maid). Yes, now guess where you've heard the name Amahara from? Idaten Deities was based on his old online manga series before being remade into a publicized manga series. His only known work was this, and Interspecies Reviewer.
Both of them are Seinen based, both of them deal with taboo subject matters. Well, not much in this case, but Interspecies was notorious for that particular reason.
Taking place in a world where demons exist, the series starts off 800 years after a legendary battle took place that sealed all the demons away, but not without the Idatens sacrificing themselves to do so. As they are pure matter conjured by the call of all livin beings. With only one Idaten left behind to find more, and train them for the foreseeable future.
Suffice it say, the manga lacks the intensity of the anime, but it does do a good job of explaining its world better than the anime does. Which, considering all things said, if you aren't super into lore, you can get into the anime as it explains the story well enough to get you invested in. Just the manga has an added touch.
But the one big thing the manga and anime have in common, it is that it spends less time dramatizing and more of getting the narrative really intertwined with the action. It's all about the deities trailblazing anything they see wrong in the world.
It's a raunchy show, but its themes and world compels you to think a bit. It's ok to be braindead throughout most of the show, as its all about the violence. But its also embraces the edgyness of action animes we've been missing for a long time. The kind that not even One Punch Man gone passed over the silver lining.
There are some eugenic experiments going on with the demons, as their need to survive requires that they use human beings to blend in. Often times requiring human sacrifices to further their goals but also ensure their existence in the world, while thethe Idaten threatens their new ways of life. While becoming human/demon hybrids.
When I was finishing the first episode, the ending was where a sister of a church was begging god to help her people in the city, as they were being invaded by the Zoble empire(led by the demons in charge). The nun prays in this crucial moment for salvation as the soldiers have her cornered. Well, she wasn't rescued and the soldiers assaulted her. There were no clear visual animations showing such as the case, but the last few seconds gave good indication of what was happening to her.
That's because the Idatens don't care about saving humanity much, they only care as long as human beings existence is close to being wiped out, as they function to serve the needs of the world only on macroscopic problems. They don't like being involved in humanity's war against one another.
But none of these should be taken seriously, it's just added context for world-building. The big highlights of the show are the intense fight scenes, and battle of wits. Because the Idatens aren't only capable of punching people, they can do a whole lot more. That includes reprogramming every human tech, or brainwashing some of the demons by inserting transplants in their human brains.
What's to like? Devilishly naughty villains that goes to obscene lengths to do their biddings, that includes engaging in nasty stuff with demon children to increase their population. Evil masterminds that makes you contemplate like, what really is good or evil, insane action sequences with bombastic sound design, literally a few episodes spanning for an arc that's about taking down a country, and the animation isn't half-bad either.
There are story exhibitions that they literally fast-forward, the dialogue is spoken so fast, it's like someone reading you terms of service but don't want you to comprehend them. The sheer obscenities just keep coming.
Not to mention a kick-ass opening that establishes the right expectations for an anime like this. It won't change your life, but it's a guilty pleasure of last year. Which sadly ended on a cliffhanger and the manga won't be finished probably till next year, of which maybe we'll get a season 2 to end its story much later on.
Not many people I've spoken to, have watched this anime, it's honestly falls under the "underrated" category really well. But I hope it does well enough to warrant that season 2 later on. You should check it out if you can. It's violent, irreverent, satirical, crazy yet also hones its own identity well compared to other high concept animes.
